2021-03-31-accounts - Writers And Scholars Educational Trust

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WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Charity Number: 325003

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

CONTENTS	Page
Trustees’ report	1 – 9
Legal and administrative information	10
Independent Auditors’ report	11 – 12
Consolidated statement of financial activities	13
Balance sheets	14
Statement of Cash Flows	15
Notes to the financial statements	16 - 24

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The Trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements of the charity and group (consisting of Writers and Scholars Educational Trust and its subsidiary – Writers and scholars International Limited) for the year ended 31 March 2021.

The Trustees have complied with statutory requirements and the requirements of the charity’s Trust Deed, in preparing the financial statements

ABOUT INDEX ON CENSORSHIP

Index on Censorship is a non-profit organisation that campaigns for and defends freedom of expression worldwide. We believe everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution - no matter what their views. Our aim is to raise awareness about the value of free speech and threats to free expression as the first step to tackling censorship. To do this, we publish work by censored writers and artists, promote debate, and provide information and expertise on free speech issues.

CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF WRITERS AND SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST (INDEX ON CENSORSHIP)

Our charitable deed states:

'Such charitable purposes including the advancement and promotion by teaching, lecturing and publishing or disseminating in written or spoken form or otherwise as in the absolute discretion and opinion of the Trustees shall best advance and encourage education or other charitable purposes beneficial to the community in connection with the study of political, economic, social and natural sciences and the humanities and human rights, the study and promotion of knowledge of the British Constitution and the Constitutional Law of England and of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and their application and of comparative studies with similar laws and conventions in other jurisdictions.'

CHAIR'S STATEMENT

At the start of the 2020/21 financial year, with much of the world in turmoil it was far from certainty that Index on Censorship would be able to muster the resources and stability that would allow us to carry out the mission set by our founders half a century ago, of being a voice for the persecuted globally. Over time the size and complexity of that mission has increased in a way that few would have foreseen.

Both overt and covert attacks on journalists and artists increased worldwide. Authoritarian regimes in Belarus, China, Myanmar, and Nicaragua, to cite just a few examples, intensified their surveillance of citizens and repression of independent voices.

This was also the year in which the assault on free expression was brought close to home in the most vivid way possible, with the beheading of the French teacher, Samuel Paty in October 2020. Against the background of protest inspired by racial injustice and arguments about sex and gender, the need for compelling defence of free speech in democratic societies has become both more urgent and more difficult. The continuing development of social media as both a liberating medium and a channel of persecution has demanded novel approaches to the ethics of public discourse.

However, the Trustees have little doubt that the calm and informed voice projected by Index has been a vital moderating influence. Our advocacy for those in danger of being silenced by tyranny has not ceased. We remain determined to ensure the protection of diversity of opinion in an atmosphere of civility and respect. But none of this could happen without the means to deliver campaigns, our magazine and partnerships with other freedom of expression advocates and partners.

We were seen through this difficult year by the faith of our supporters and the commitment of our staff, for both of which we as a board are profoundly grateful. The fact that Index was able to continue its work highlighting and documenting the loss of freedoms owes much to the efforts and determination of our former CEO, Jodie Ginsberg and my predecessor as Chair, David Aaronovitch; the Board, would, I know, want our gratitude to be put on record.

We would also want to thank the Board members who stepped down, David Schlesinger and Kiri Kankhwende and extend a welcome to those who joined us, Andrew Franklin, Sarah Sands and our new Treasurer James Goode.

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Above all, the board would like to thank the professional staff, who shouldered the burden of doing more with fewer resources, often by going above and beyond anything that could reasonably be expected. I am particularly indebted to our new Chief Executive, Ruth Smeeth; her inspirational leadership and businesslike approach to rebuilding Index has been central to ensuring that we become once again, in our fiftieth year, the voice for the persecuted that our founders imagined we could be.

Trevor Phillips

PLANS FOR 2021 / 22 AND BEYOND: A NOTE FROM THE CEO

As the world emerges from the shadow of the Covid19 pandemic we are constantly being exposed to the realities of how dictators and tyrants have acted against their citizens when they thought the world was distracted. From Hong Kong to Belarus to Myanmar to Afghanistan and too many others to mention, people have been persecuted for demanding their liberal democratic rights to free expression. Our hearts have collectively been touched day-in, day-out, as we have reached out to try and support those who are so inspiring and so brave. Making sure that more people know of their struggles and providing that rare support - solidarity.

As part of our ongoing program and to mark our 50[th] birthday Index has undertaken a complete restructure and seeks to engage on the issues of free speech and free expression through the prism of our heritage - to be a voice for the persecuted. Telling the stories of people who are detained or censored by their governments and seeking to work with others to challenge the structural threats to free speech that new technologies and associated regulation are creating.

As part of this refresh of Index’s work we are developing a new Index – putting the Index back in Index on Censorship, seeking to fill a gap which ranks the broader threats to free speech around the world.

2021 also marks the COP26 conference, as nation states negotiate a way forward to tackle the climate emergency Index has launched a new piece of work to explore how climate activists are being censored around the world – Climate of Fear.

To mark 12 months since stolen elections in Belarus we are also launching a new project – letters from Lukasheko’s prisoners, publishing one a week from a political prisoners currently detained by the regime.

We will also be exploring the long-term impact of Covid19 and how some of the emergency regulations which impact free expression are outliving the pandemic.

In addition to our core work exposing the actions of repressive regimes and their impact on their domestic populations we are launching a new project #BannedbyBeijing exploring how the Chinese Government are using their soft power, outside their borders, to censor artists and academics.

As you can tell we have ambitious plans and look forward to working with you to make sure we stay a Voice for the Persecuted.

Ruth Smeeth

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

OUR AIMS

Inform Index seeks to broaden and deepen public understanding of global threats to freedom of expression as the first step to addressing those threats. Without such information, individuals are unable to make the informed decisions that are crucial for full participation in a free society. We raise awareness through our magazine, website and social media; monitoring and reporting of freedom of expression violations; and events and media.

Support Index supports censored writers and artists Index supports all those facing censorship and threats to free expression. This includes writers, artists, scholars, activists and anyone who is denied the right of free expression. We achieve this through the publication and promotion of original written material in our magazine and online, through legal support, and through our Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship.

Influence Index uses the expertise and information gathered in its award-winning magazine, in its online reporting, and through research and monitoring projects to campaign for change on specific freedom of expression issues. We achieve this through media campaigns, and by lobbying governments, multi-national organisations such as the Council of Europe and specific authorities on different issues. We work with other organisations to strengthen the power of our advocacy by sharing resources and information.

Debate Open debate is a central tenet of free expression and so Index actively promotes and leads discussion about the limits and concerns surrounding free expression, tackling subjects that are often ignored by mainstream media, or by taking discussions to different audiences. We will be launching a new debate forum in 2021 to lead and inform the discussion on free expression.

Overview of the year 2020-21

Index faced significant organisational challenges due to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic. Working remotely Index undertook a full staffing restructure, rebranded and undertook a full re-design of the magazine. In addition, we launched new projects including our Covid19 Disease Control – documenting new restrictions to free expression around the globe introduced under the cover of Covid. Additionally, we increased our work on vexatious lawsuits and on online regulation. We continued to provide personalised support to individuals facing censorship via our prestigious Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship.

ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES

INFORM

Magazine

Since its establishment in 1972. Index on Censorship magazine has published some of the greatest names in literature including Samuel Beckett. Nadine Gordimer, Mario Vargas Llosa. Hilary Mantel and Kurt Vonnegut. It also has published some of the greatest campaigning writers of our age from Vaclav Havel, Amartya Sen and Ariel Dorfman.

The magazine is available in more than 9,000 universities worldwide and more than 2,000 hard copies of the magazine were distributed at events globally during the year. One of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic is that online readership levels of the magazine are at an all time high.

Summer 2020: Private Lives

Just how much of our privacy might we give away - accidentally, on purpose or through force - in the battle against Covid19? Tech journalist Geoff White looks at how drones are hovering overhead around the world, from China to the UK, to make sure we are abiding by quarantine and physical distancing. Just how up close and personal can they get? Less technical but just as sinister, Issa Sikiti da Silva reports from Uganda on government spies that are doing the same job as the drones, only they seem to be targeting political opposition. Meanwhile, people around the world are being encouraged to download contact tracing apps. That might be ok when the app has safeguarded privacy, but more often than not what is happening to data is not being spelt out throughout the world

Autumn 2020: The disappeared

When Hong Kong passed the National Security Law at the end of June, many things disappeared in the city overnight. Some were long-held principles of democracy and free speech; others were more tangible things, as Oliver Farry writes,

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES (continued)

like books on the protest movement, posters promoting an independent Hong Kong, and people who either fled the city or were arrested. But Hong Kong is not the only place in the world where things are disappearing. Across the border in China, Rushan Abbas does not know where her sister is, a Uighur who has vanished in China's vast network of concentration camps. In Europe, countless perish in the Mediterranean Sea, their graves unmarked, as Alessio Perrone investigates. Outside the special report we have a new short story from Lisa Appignanesi, we ask Donald Trump voters from 2016 whether he has listened to those "forgotten Americans" and a look at how street art has been used during Covid-19 for important political statements

Winter 2020: Masked by Covid

From the moment Chinese state media announced a novel coronavirus back in January, the whole world has been transfixed by news of Covid-19. News cycles that are almost exclusively on the virus has fed into the hands of dictators, who have not only used it as an excuse to clampdown on media freedoms, but also as a cover hoping in our distraction we won't speak up. Many stories that would otherwise have dominated headlines and angered the world have slipped through the cracks. Stories like the Nicaraguan leader pushing through a series of bills that will silence what little independent media is left. Bianca Jagger asks us why we haven't paid more attention. Stories like the Chinese government imposing Mandarin-Chinese language tuition on Inner Mongolian schools - a move with such grave implications for cultural autonomy that people have taken their lives. Stories like a new leader in Slovenia, who like Polish and Hungarian leaders is far-right and taking aim at journalists and minorities. With writing from people on the ground and area experts, we cover these stories in our special report. Outside the special report we have our very first debate on whether social media companies have a moral duty to ban anti-vax misinformation, the philosopher John Gray discusses whether John Stuart Mill has contributed to the culture wars, Nick Holdstock looks at the history of Xinjiang in China to shed light on the current atrocities there and in our culture section we publish poetry from Uighurs who have disappeared into the Xinjiang camps.

Spring 2020: China - A century of silencing dissent

In our newly redesigned magazine which sees the return of the Index Index, we explored the impact of 100 years of CCP rule in China given the context of a renewed crackdown on internal dissent and foreign journalists inside China. The centrepiece of our special report is a highly personal essay by Chinese-born British writer Ma Jian , who writes of his own teenage experience of the Great Famine – in which 45 million of his fellow citizens died – and his belief that the CCP and China are not one and the same. Also of huge importance is an interview by Sarah Sands , former editor of the Evening Standard and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, with Facebook vice-president Nick Clegg about how the company grapples with censorship issues.

Tim Hetherington Fellowship The Tim Hetherington Fellowship is a year-long paid internship with the editorial team at Index on Censorship, run in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the Tim Hetherington Trust.

Awarded each year to a current student or recent graduate of LJMU, the fellowship -- named after photojournalist, filmmaker and artist Tim Hetherington -- offers hands-on journalism experience. Fellows report on national and international free expression issues in Index's award-winning quarterly magazine and on our website. They also work closely with creative writers, artists and authors who have faced censorship.

Online

Our website and social media accounts provide us with a vital platform to showcase our advocacy, magazine and events work as well as to report on and analyse topical freedom of expression threats and issues as they arise. Over the last year Index has refocused our online efforts with more original analysis and comment commissioned directly for the website. We have revamped the output of our social media offering and have seen a steady increase in followers and engagement.

For the first time Index on Censorship went dark for 24 hours online – to honour the memory of Ruhollah Zam, a journalist executed in Iran for doing his job.

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES (continued)

SUPPORT

Index supports individuals and groups facing censorship through directly commissioning the work of censored writers and artists who live in repressive regimes. We also shine a light on their experiences and seek to provide both practical support and solidarity.

A key aspect of our work has related to Belarus – where one of our former staff, Andrei Aliaksandrau, has been detained for paying the fines of those protesting Lukashenko’s stolen election. Arrested in January 2021, he now faces up to 15 years in prison for treason.

In addition to our core work Index also featured 6 dissidents as part of our end of year campaign, sending hundreds of messages of solidarity from our supporters to a range of human rights defenders detained by repressive regimes for their work in defending the right to free expression. They were:

Golrokh Emrahimi Iraee, jailed for writing about the practice of stoning in Iran;
Hatice Duman, the former editor of the banned socialist newspaper Atılım, who has been in jail in Turkey since 2002;
Khaled Drareni, jailed in Algeria for ‘incitement to unarmed gathering’ simply for covering the weekly Hirak protests that are calling for political reform in the country;
Loujain al-Hathloul, a women’s rights activist known for her attempts to raise awareness of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia;
Yuri Dmitriev, a historian being silenced by Putin in Russia for creating a memorial to the victims of Stalinist terror and facing fabricated sexual assault charges.
Aasif Sultan, who was arrested in Kashmir after writing about the death of Buhran Wani has been under illegal detention without charge for more than 800 days.

This work is complemented through our Freedom of Expression Awards, where we seek to work with those people who are targeted for defending free expression in their countries.

Awards are offered in three categories: Arts, Campaigning and Journalism. Anyone who has had a demonstrable impact in tackling censorship is eligible, and preference is given to those who have not received significant support or recognition elsewhere. This year, due to the pandemic our awards ceremony has been delayed until September 2021 and have been revamped.

INFLUENCE

Index on Censorship is one of the world's leading experts on the principles of freedom of expression. Our advocacy work has three main areas of focus:

campaigning on behalf of individuals facing censorship
- exposing new and emergent threats

providing contemporary analysis of comparable restrictions

Media Index is undertaking an extensive project to analyse and expose the impact of vexatious lawsuits on journalists across Europe. This is dominating our media advocacy work as we have aspirations for a draft EU framework as well as seeking to raise the profile of the issue in the UK, which we are doing in partnership with the Foreign Policy Centre.

Digital Our work this year has continued to focus on the UK's proposals to regulate social media platforms to enhance user safety. Index is a leading member of the Legal to Type, Legal to Say campaign and is actively engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this issue - from government to civil service to technology companies to media organisations. Along with other free speech organisations, we are ensuring that freedom of expression is a key item on the agenda.

We are active members of the Global Network Initiative, which brings together tech and telecommunications companies, civil society organisations, academics and investors, to work on free speech and tech issues globally and work closely with European and global partners to defend freedom of expression online.

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES (continued)

DEBATE

Index has made it one of our primary goals to reach new audiences. Annually Index staff take part in more than 50 public events, including book launches, panel discussions, and performances of banned plays.

We host our own events, including our launches of our four magazines a year which feature lively speakers and interesting discussions that connect to magazine content.

Our events programme has moved online due to the pandemic, but our level of output and engagement has remained at similar levels.

In addition to public events, Index is actively engaged in outreach through the media. We are regularly quoted by outlets such as the BBC, Guardian, Times, and Telegraph on freedom of expression issues. As part of our 50[th] anniversary programme Index is also working collaboratively with Times Radio to hear directly from journalists and activists on the frontline of campaigns to protect and promote free speech.

FUNDING

Index on Censorship receives funding from a variety of sources. Our independence is of central importance to us and is ensured by an independent board of trustees. Funders do not – and are not able to – set the policies of the organisation or of the projects they fund, nor may they have input into, or preferential access, to any research, editorial output or policy development. Funders may not request or require board representation as a condition of their grants.

We are grateful to the support of the following during the year: Arts Council England Clifford Chance The John S Cohen Foundation Daily Mail Dropbox Edwardian Hotels The Elaine and David Potter Foundation Facebook Fritt Ord Google Justice For Journalists Foundation Liverpool John Moores University Kate Maltby New Philanthropy Capital Open Society Foundation Sage Publications Swedish Lottery Telegraph Media Group Twitter Wellesley College

and various individuals who have supported the organisation through Index Champions or Index Advocates membership, or through subscription to the magazine.

The charity is a member of the Fundraising Regulator and has not received any complaints about our practices. It does not employ third-party fundraising agencies, nor does it directly court the general public.

Fundraising

The financial year 2020-21 saw total income rise from £726,217 to £811,132 mainly accounted for by pandemic emergency funding streams from OSF (the company) and two from ACE (the charity). The Armitage Foundation (New Philanthropy Capital) was a new funder for us. We did not lose any of our regular funders and have several pending applications with recent funders which if successful, will fall into the next financial year. We received continued funding from the David and Elaine Potter Foundation, Fritt Ord, Google and Arts Council England.

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

With the emergency funding, the charity’s income went up from £469,650 to £584,106. However, even with the extra OSF grant the company’s income dropped from £256,565 to £227,026. This is largely explained by us not being able to hold the annual Freedom of Expression Awards with consequent loss of sponsorship income.

Although we would not anticipate further emergency funding into the new financial year, we have restructured the organization so as to significantly reduce our costs, including going to remote working without an office and subsequent costs, from Autumn 2021. At the date of these accounts, much of the above core funding has been renewed or even increased in the current financial year.

Financial Report and going concern

The Trustees report the financial performance for the year just past represented a huge upswing on the previous year and achieved its primary goal of taking the organisation out of a consolidated negative reserves position. While the charity now has a healthy level of unrestricted reserves once again, the company is still in a negative reserves position, albeit it at a far lower level than it brought forward from the previous year.

The charity made a surplus of £98,219, wiping out its negative reserves brought forward, to give us a level of reserves of £71,273. The company made a profit of £48,351 which still leaves it with losses carried forward of £39,453. The consolidated surplus for the year was £146,564 (compared with a consolidated loss last year of £160,596) and the consolidated reserves position at 31st March 2021 is £31,821 which represents nearly a month of operating (reserves target is 3 months of operating costs). The focus of the financial year 2021-22 will be on bringing the company out of its negative reserves position and to get as close to the full reserves target as possible. £17,558 of a disbursement grant was adjudged to not come into this financial year, but will be recognised in financial year 2021-22.

Staff costs were considerably reduced from £496,850 in 19-20, to £347,230. This reflects roles not being filled when staff left, particularly at senior management level and currently we operate with a staff payroll of 6 full timers, with 2 part-timers on 6-month contracts and two freelancers (we have checked the new IR35 tax regulations and our freelancers do not cause us any added expenditure for having to process tax and NI).

Overheads were down from £131,000 to £97,715, largely accounted for by remote working during the pandemic. We will be slashing this budget line once we go officeless in the Autumn, though there will be some costs of closing the office, disposing of assets and streamlining remote working which have been budgeted for this year.

Reserves policy

The reserves policy has been established by the Index board, with the desired level of reserves being based on a consideration of at-risk funding. The board feel this represents the most and measurable way of arriving at a reserves target. The target arrived at was £123,000 of unrestricted funds, which equates to three months operating costs at the current level (£41,000 per month). The trustees are pleased to report that the consolidated negative reserves position at the start of the year have been reversed this year and re-established reserves almost back at the level of one-third of the target which was the position two years ago. The level currently is £31,000. The aim for the forthcoming year is to get to at least two-thirds of the target, if not reach the full target. Additionally, a recalculation of the reserves level would be in order in 2021 once the organisation works remotely and reduces its overheads costs significantly.

The level of unrestricted funds is £31,821 The level of restricted funds is £0. There are no designated or endowment funds.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The Trustees ensure that this purpose is carried out by the performance of services valued by the public both in the UK and internationally.

Both forms of editorial content (online and print) offer the highest quality of commissioned journalism and analysis, providing viewpoints from all parts of the spectrum of any free expression debate. Our expert editorial filter of censorship issues can be used to help those interested in free expression, find contextualised and verified information in support of free speech. We augment the news, picking the most important and most interesting free expression stories and pushing them out to a wider audience. The interest shown by the public in several of the current debates around free expression throughout all media has been particularly well served by the charity. Index has been at the forefront of many of such debates, able to deliver them in accessible form, through editorial content and events showcasing key figures from relevant

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

fields and disciplines. We also have extended geographical access to our debates through podcasting and video recordings available through our website and social media digital platforms. These reflect two of our objectives to inform and to encourage debate.

The research and articles published in Index on Censorship magazine are of direct relevance to specialist professionals in law, media and academia, but they also serve to deepen the knowledge and advance learning of the broader public, in the understanding and analysis of human rights. Extracts from the magazine continue to be offered for free on our website, while the entire archive from years previous to the current one are available for free online. Increasing social media followers and web viewing figures attest to the widening of our audience. This year we maintained our specialist “Journalists’ Toolbox” for working in challenging environments, which we published in English, Spanish, Arabic and Russian and available for free online.

Index continues to bring material to under-represented communities in the freedom of expression debate, and particularly expanding its reach towards greater numbers of young people and people involved in education. As part of this initiative we host a Youth Advisory Board with new members every six months, so that we can consult on, and be led by, the members as to their requirements in the free expression realm as it affects young people and thus tailor our approach to meet these needs. We also ran a pilot scheme here in the UK and the US, mentoring and giving media training for spokespeople in under-represented communities to enable them to engage in public debate. We have worked directly with a number of youth and educational agencies and be able to put different groups in contact with one another to share knowledge and we have begun to extend this network globally. Index also works closely with several UK and international universities.

Index supports key professionals and decision makers in the arts sector through case studies and conferences, helping them to protect and promote freedom of expression to their own audiences. We had previously produced five free law packs to equip such professionals with a guide to help them continue to exhibit and produce controversial art in full knowledge of the law and responsibilities to artists, their employees and the public. These were updated within the year to reflect new case studies and changes in the law. With our Arts Council funding, we have developed a training programme for arts’ institutions to be able to analyse risk more sympathetically in consideration of controversial art.

In order to pursue our work in accordance with our mission and public benefit statements, we have a legitimate interest in holding and processing the data of both individuals and organisations.

Governance and Management

Trustee Board

Trustees serve for a period of five years. Existing Trustees select members of the Trustee Board. Currently recruitment has occurred through personal recommendation and word of mouth. Rules and guidelines published by the Charity Commission on the responsibilities of being a Trustee are provided to all new Trustees. In addition, new Trustees are inducted in the charity by the Chief Executive and Chair of Trustees.

Every effort is made to ensure that all specialist areas of the Charity’s operation are represented. Candidates that strengthen the Board are always considered, with no upper limit on the number of Trustees. Trustees meet four times a year to review strategy, risk and performance and to approve the operating plans and budgets. The majority of Trustee meetings take place at Writers and Scholars Trust’s offices, enabling the Trustees to meet other members of staff on a regular basis.

Responsibility for strategy, planning and the day-to-day management of operations is delegated to a management team led by the Chief Executive. Formal reporting by the Chief Executive takes place in writing two weeks prior to each Trustee meeting. The key issues arising from this report and any other matters are then discussed in detail at the Trustee meeting. Minutes are then circulated, within seven days, for approval at the subsequent Trustee meeting.

The pay of the senior management team (’key management personnel’) and all staff are regularly reviewed and where there are increases these are in line with average earnings and any cost of living adjustment. In view of the nature of the charity, the Trustees benchmark against pay levels in other charities. The remuneration benchmark is the mid-point of the range paid for similar roles in equivalent sized charities

Risk Review

With a full risk register in place, throughout the year the Trustees consider the top five or ten risks anticipated or actually faced in the year, in terms of likelihood, impact, mitigations and responsibility. These are then added to the risk register as an update. The Trustees are satisfied that systems have been developed and are in place to mitigate identified risks to a

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

satisfactory level. The last risk review was carried out by the Trustees in December 2020 and reported in last year’s Trustees’ Report accompanying the accounts. The Trustees are satisfied that no further or new risks have arisen up until June 2021. The next risk review is scheduled for December 2021.

Management

The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include:

A strategic plan and annual budget overseen by the Trustees
Regular consideration by the Trustees of financial results, variance from budgets, non-financial performance indicators and benchmarking reviews
Delegation of authority and segregation of duties
Identification and management of risk as above

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Charity law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and its financial activities for the period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ascertain the financial position of the Charity and to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees confirm that so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Charity’s auditors are unaware. They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Charity’s auditors are aware of that information.

POWERS AND RESTRICTIONS

The Trustees have absolute discretion to decide which of the Trust’s purposes to forward, and no limitations on the means they adopt to do so. In particular they have complete discretion to invest money as they wish and are therefore not bound by the provisions of the Trustee Investment Act.

Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

Trevor Phillips

Trevor Phillips Chair Chair

Date: 23 September 2021

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Status

The Writers and Scholars Educational Trust is a registered charity, number 325003, constituted by the Trust Deed dated 25 March 1971. In June 2016 the charity was converted into the status of a corporate trustee, WSET Trustee Ltd, company registered number 10188386. The Trustees of WSET resigned on 23[rd] June and were immediately appointed as Directors of the corporate trustee WSET Trustee Ltd.

The directors of WSET Trustee Ltd are:

Trevor Phillips (Chair) David Aaronovitch resigned 08/10/2020 Sarah Sands appointed 08/10/2020 Elaine Potter David Schlesinger resigned 17/03/21 Kate Maltby Kiri Kankhwende resigned 17/03/2021 James Goode (Treasurer) appointed 07/01/2021 Andrew Franklin appointed 07/01/2021

Management

Ruth Smeeth – Chief Executive David Sewell – Finance Director Jemimah Steinfeld – Head of Content

The principal address and contact details

Autograph Building 1 Rivington Place London Telephone: 0203 848 9820 EC2A 3BA E-Mail: ceo@indexoncensorship.org

Auditors:

Haysmacintyre LLP, 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1AG Bankers: Triodos Bank NV, Brunel House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5A

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Writers and Scholars Educational Trust for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Group and Charity Balance Sheets, Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of the group’s net movement in funds for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for opinion

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report .

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charity, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the parent charity financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of trustees for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 13 and 14, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST (continued)

control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the charity and the sector in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of noncompliance with laws and regulations is related to regulatory requirements of the Charity Commission, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011.

We evaluated management’s opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries and management bias in certain accounting estimates and judgements such as the income recognition policy. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

Inspecting correspondence with appropriate regulators and tax authorities;
Discussions with management including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulation and fraud;
Evaluating management’s controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities;
Review of minutes of meetings to identify instances of fraud;
Identifying and testing journals, in particular journal entries posted with unusual account combinations, postings by unusual users or with unusual descriptions; and
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their critical accounting estimates.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity’s trustees as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Haysmacintyre LLP 10 Queen Street Pace Statutory Auditor London EC4R 1AG

haysmacintyre is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

Date: 29th September 2021

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
		Funds	Funds	Funds	Funds
	Notes	2021	2021	2021	2020
		£	£	£	£
INCOME FROM:
Donations & legacies	2	422,294	-	422,294	437,580
Charitable activities
Publishing fees & royalties	3	111,048	0	111,048	107,559
Other income from charitable activities	3	190,596	87,164	277,760	167,468
Other trading activities
Events income	3	-	-	-	13,593
Investments Income		30	-	30	17
		---------------------	----------------	---------------------	---------------------
TOTAL INCOME		723,938	87,164	811,132	726,217
		--------------------	----------------	--------------------	--------------------
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Donations and legacies	4	262,035	-	262,035	306,876
Fundraising activities	4	12	-	12	14,817
Charitable activities	4	315,357	87,164	402,521	565,121
		--------------------	----------------	--------------------	--------------------
TOTAL EXPENDITURE		577,404	87,164	664,568	886,814
		-------------------	----------------	--------------------	--------------------
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) NET
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS		146,564	-	146,564	(160,597)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward		(114,743)	-	(114,743)	45,854
		-----------------	----------------	-----------------	-----------------
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		31,821	0	31,821	(114,743)
		========	========	========	========

None of the charity’s activities were acquired or discontinued in the year.

There were no recognised gains or losses other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

The notes on page 18 to 26 form an integral part of these financial statements.

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

GROUP AND CHARITY BALANCE SHEETS

AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 7 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS:Amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets NET ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted income funds 10 Restricted income funds 11 TOTAL FUNDS	Group 2021 2020 £ £ 11,577 15,865 ~~-------------~~ ~~-------------~~ 35,166 34,798 149,444 34,011 ~~-----------------~~ ~~-----------------~~ 184,610 68,809 (164,366) (199,417) ~~----------------~~ ~~----------------~~ 20,244 (130,608) ~~---------------~~ ~~---------------~~ 31,821 (114,743) ======== ======== 31,821 (114,743) - - ~~----------------~~ ~~----------------~~ 31,821 (114,743) ======== ========	Charity 2021 £ - ~~--------------~~ 35,211 120,814 ~~----------------~~ 156,025 (84,753) ~~----------------~~ 71,272 ~~----------------~~ 71,272 ======== 71,272 ~~-----------------~~ 71,272 ========		2020 £ - ~~--------------~~ 30,071 31,319 ~~---------------~~ 61,390 (88,331) ~~---------------~~ (26,941) ~~---------------~~ (26,941) ======= (26,941) - ~~---------------~~ (26,941) =======


			=
			~~-~~ =

The accounts were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue and signed on their behalf by:

Trevor Phillips

Trevor Phillips Chair

Date: 23 September 2021

The notes on page 18 to 26 form an integral part of these financial statements

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

	2021	2020
	£	£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities (see below)	115,545	36,059
	-----------------	-----------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of fixed assets	(112)	(7,467)
	-----------------	-----------------
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(112)	(7,467)
	-----------------	-----------------
Net cash provided by financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year	115,433	28,592
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	34,011	5,419
	-----------------	-----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	149,444	34,011
	========	========

RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

	2021	2020
	£	£
Net (expenditure) for the reporting year (as per the statement of financial activities)	146,563	(160,597)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation	4,400	3,708
Decrease/(increase) in debtors	(368)	147,318
Increase/(decrease) in creditors	(35,050)	45,630
	-----------------	-----------------
*Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities*	115,545	36,059
	========	=========

ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

			Other non-
			cash
	At 1 April	Cash flows	changes	At 31 March
	2020			2021
	£	£	£	£
Cash and bank	34,011	115,433		149,444
	==========	==========	==========	==========

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of financial statements is as follows:

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2020), and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Writers and Scholars Educational Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The Group has recorded a surplus in the year of £146,564 with overall funds in surplus by £31,821. Since the yearend and following the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity has taken the opportunity to restructure the organisation. This has resulted in less reliance on specific projects with fewer staff being required with a redundancy having taken place and other staff not being replaced. A cost cutting exercise has also been undertaken resulting in the charity giving up its office in the near future. A number of emergency funding grants have been secured during the year which has helped to build up funds. Forecast budgets and cash flows have been prepared for the period to 31 October 2022. These forecasts indicate that the group has sufficient cash to continue its operations for the foreseeable future. The trustees consider there to be no material uncertainties relating to going concern. As a result of the above, the accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis which the trustees consider to be appropriate.

Basis of consolidation

The group financial statements consolidate those of the charity and its subsidiary company, Writers and Scholars International Limited (“the Company”) drawn up to 31 March 2021. Surpluses or deficits on intra-group transactions are eliminated in full.

Results of the company which engages in activities similar to those of the charity are consolidated on a line-by-line basis in the SOFA and balance sheet.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are recorded at cost. Assets acquired with a value of less than £100 are not capitalised but are written off as revenue expenditure.

Depreciation has been provided at the following rates in order to write down the cost or valuation, less estimated residual value, of all tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives as follows:

Computers 25% straight line Fixtures & Fittings 10% straight line

Income recognition

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income can be measured reliably.

Income from grants and fees is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grant have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Where income is received in advance of its recognition it is deferred and included in creditors. Where entitlement occurs before income being received the income is accrued.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred, inclusive of VAT, which cannot be recovered.

All expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs relating to the following categories:

Charitable Activities – Costs of charitable activities comprise all costs identified as wholly or mainly attributable to achieving the charitable objectives of the charity, including the costs of disseminating information in support of charitable activities. These costs include staff costs, wholly or mainly attributable support costs and an apportionment of general overheads.

Governance costs – These comprise all costs identified as wholly or mainly attributable to ensuring the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulations.

Staff costs are allocated by the trustees between direct charitable expenditure and support expenditure on the basis of time spent on these activities. Other costs are ascribed directly to the relevant heading.

Pension costs

Writers & Scholars Educational Trust operates a defined contributions scheme for the benefit of the employees. The assets of the Scheme are held independently from those of Writers & Scholars Educational Trust in an independently administered fund. The pension costs charged in the financial statements represents the contributions payable during the year.

Operating lease agreements

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged against profits on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Restricted funds

Where grants are to be spent in accordance with terms agreed with the funders, the income and related expenditure are shown as ‘Restricted’. Any unspent restricted income at the year-end is deferred for spending to future years.

Unrestricted funds

Core income and such other income for which there are no restrictions on the way it can be spent are termed ‘Unrestricted’. Such unspent income at the year-end is termed ‘Unrestricted funds’.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes bank accounts, cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Estimation uncertainty

In the view of the trustees in applying the accounting policies adopted, no judgements were required that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements nor do any estimates or assumptions made carry a significant risk of material adjustment in the next financial year.

Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basis financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

2.

DONATIONS & LEGACIES	2021	2020
	£	£
Donations	44,108	96,270
Grants:
David & Elaine Potter Foundation	-	36,000
Fritt Ord	50,757	51,980
Google	50,000	50,000
Arts Council England	100,500	43,122
Armitage Foundation	50,000	-
Other grants	10,951	34,005
Grants received by Writers & Scholars
International Limited	115,978	126,203
	------------------	------------------
	422,294	£437,580
	=========	=========

3.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - 2021	Unrestricted	Restricted
	Funds	Funds	2021	2020
	£	£	£	£
Liverpool John Moores University	10,722	-	10,722	10,722
National Endowment for Democracy	121,963	-	121,963	58,664
Arts Council England	43,915	-	43,915	-
Swiss Philanthropy	-	-	-	39,219
Swedish Lottery	-	87,164	87,164	41,077
Publishing fees and royalties	111,048	-	111,048	107,559
Event income	-	-	-	13,593
Justice for Journalists Foundation	13,996		13,996	-
Other direct income	-	-	-	17,786
	-------------------	----------------	-------------------	-------------------
	301,644	87,164	388,808	288,620
	=========	========	=========	=========

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

3.	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - 2020	Unrestricted	Restricted
		Funds	Funds	2020	2019
		£	£	£	£
	Liverpool John Moores University	10,722	-	10,722	9,832
	National Endowment for Democracy	58,664	-	58,664	81,417
	Arts Council England	-	-	-	45,000
	Swiss Philanthropy	39,219	-	39,219	-
	Swedish Lottery	41,077	-	41,077	-
	Publishing fees and royalties	107,559	-	107,559	104,627
	Event income	13,593	-	13,593	74,519
	Other direct income	17,786	-	17,786	9,932
		-------------------	----------------	-------------------	-------------------
		288,620	-	£288,620	£325,327
		=========	========	=========	=========
4.	ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE - 2021	Direct	Support	Total	Total
		Costs	Costs	2021	2020
		£	£	£	£
	Charitable activities:
	Publications	97,726	110,044	207,769	261,461
	Projects	171,098	23,654	194,752	303,660
		-----------------	-----------------	-----------------	-----------------
		268,824	133,698	402,521	565,121
	Raising funds – donations and legacies	85,912	176,122	262,035	306,876
	- fundraising activities	12		12	14,817
		------------------	------------------	--------------------	--------------------
	TOTAL	354,748	309,820	664,568	£886,814
		=========	=========	==========	==========
	ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE - 2020	Direct	Support	Total
		Costs	Costs	2020
		£	£	£
	Charitable activities:
	Publications	132,511	128,950	261,461
	Projects	216,942	86,718	303,660
		-----------------	-----------------	-----------------
		349,453	215,668	565,121
	Raising funds – donations and legacies	117,381	189,495	306,876
	- fundraising activities	14,817	-	14,817
		------------------	------------------	--------------------
	TOTAL	£481,651	£405,164	£886,813
		=========	=========	==========

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

	SUPPORT COSTS CONSIST OF:
		2021	2020
		£	£
	Staff costs	198,298	251,129
	Premises	56,583	56,968
	Office and administration	25,418	66,433
	Professional and consultancy	6,142	6,822
	Currency exchange differences	409	1,561
	Irrecoverable VAT	3,890	5,690
	Depreciation	4,400	3,707
	Governance (see note 5)	14,680	12,854
		------------------	------------------
		309,820	405,164
		=========	=========
5.	GOVERNANCE COSTS	2021	2020
		£	£
	Auditor’s remuneration	14,680	11,850
	Other fees	-	951
	Meeting expenses	-	53
		-----------------	-----------------
		14,680	12,854
		========	========

No trustees received any remuneration (2020: £nil) and no trustees were reimbursed for travel costs (2020: £nil).

6. EMPLOYEES Group staff costs were as follows: Wages and salaries Redundancy cost National insurance contributions Pension contributions The average weekly number of employees during the year were as follows: Charitable activities Management and support Number of employees earning between £60,000 - £69,999	2021 £ 298,779 15,339 24,888 7,955 ~~----------------~~ 346,961 ======== No. 7 1 ~~-----------~~ 8 ====== 1 ===	2020 £ 446,250 - 45,554 7,135 ~~----------------~~ 498,939 ======== No. 11 3 ~~-----------~~ 14 ====== 1 ===

Staff benefits paid to key management personnel amounted to £137,640 (2020 -£228,590).

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

7. FIXED ASSETS Group Cost At 1 April 2020 Additions Disposals At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2020 Charge for the year Disposals At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 8. DEBTORS Trade debtors Prepayments Accrued income Other debtors Due from Writers and Scholars Int’l Ltd 9. CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year Bank overdraft Trade creditors Other creditors Taxation and social security Accruals Deferred income Due to Writers and Scholars International Ltd	Fixtures and Fittings Computers £ £ 18,358 26,799 112 ~~------------~~ ~~------------~~ 18,470 26,799 ~~------------~~ ~~------------~~ 7,569 21,723 1,803 2,597 ~~-------------~~ ~~------------~~ 9,372 24,320 ~~------------~~ ~~------------~~ 9,098 2,479 ====== ====== £2,614 £5,076 ====== ====== Group Charity 2021 2020 2021 £ £ £ - 12,204 14,924 9,760 9,544 5,195 9,544 13,418 14,679 12,578 - - 3,330 ~~----------------~~ ~~----------------~~ ~~---------------~~ 35,166 34,798 35,211 ======== ======== ======== Group Charity 2021 2020 2021 £ £ £ 348 1,145 - 12,645 2,551 1,867 - - - 4,351 8,019 7,211 33,400 20,907 13,962 113,622 166,795 61,713 - - - ~~---------------~~ ~~---------------~~ ~~-------------~~ 164,366 199,417 84,753 ======== ======== =======	Total £ 45,157 112 ~~--------------~~ 45,269 ~~--------------~~ 29,292 4,400 ~~--------------~~ 33,692 ~~-------------~~ 11,577 ====== £15,865 ====== 2020 £ - 10,173 5,195 14,043 660 ~~---------------~~ 30,071 ======= 2020 £ - - - 8,019 10,573 69,739 - ~~-------------~~ 88,331 =======

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

	DEFERRED INCOME		Group		Charity	Charity
		2021		2020	2021	2020
		£		£	£	£
	Brought forward	166,795		48,929	69,739	-
	Released in the year	(166,795)		(48,929)	(69,739)	-
	Deferred in the year	113,622		166,795	61,713	69,739
		~~---------------~~	~~---------------~~		~~-------------~~	~~-------------~~
	Carried forward	113,622		166,795	61,713	69,739
		========	========		=======	=======
	Deferred income relates to grant income received in advance		for the	next accounting period.
10.	UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS – GROUP – 2021			WSET	WSIL	TOTAL
				£	£	£
	Balance brought forward			(26,941)	(87,802)	(114,743)
	Net income			98,213	48,351	146,564
				---------------	-----------------	---------------
	Balance carried forward			71,272	(39,451)	31,821
				========	========	=======
	UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS – GROUP - 2020			WSET	WSIL	TOTAL
				£	£	£
	Balance brought forward			44,101	1,752	45,853
	Net income			(71,042)	(89,554)	(160,596)
				---------------	-----------------	---------------
	Balance carried forward			(26,941)	(87,802)	(114,743)
				========	========	=======
11.	RESTRICTED FUNDS - 2021	Balance at				Balance at
		1 April				31 March
		2020		Income	Expenditure	2021
		£		£	£	£
	Swedish Lottery	-		87,164	(87,164)	-
		--------------		------------------	-----------------	--------------
	Total	-		87,164	(87,164)	-
		=======		========	========	=======
	RESTRICTED FUNDS - 2020	Balance at				Balance at
		1 April				31 March
		2019		Income	Expenditure	2020
		£		£	£	£
	National Endowment for Democracy	-		81,417	(81,417)	-
	Arts Council England	-		45,000	(45,000)	-
		--------------		------------------	-----------------	--------------
	Total	-		126,417	(126,417)	-
		=======		========	========	=======

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

11. RESTRICTED FUNDS (Continued)

Nature and purpose of each fund:

Swedish Lottery – funds for combating legal threats and actions silencing journalists.

National Endowment for Democracy – funds for greater accessibility to digital means.

Arts Council England – fund for combating censorship through providing training in legal issues and controversial artworks.

12. WRITERS AND SCHOLARS INTERNATIONAL LTD

This is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and is a subsidiary of the charity. It outsources the publication of the magazine Index on Censorship, which is the main outlet through which the Trust fulfils its charitable objectives. All activities of the company have been consolidated on a line by line basis in the SOFA.

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Overhead expenditure Operating profit/(loss) Interest receivable Profit/(Loss) for the financial year BALANCE SHEET Fixed assets Current assets Creditors falling due within one year Net current (liabilities)/assets Capital and reserves		2021 £ 227,026 (148,858) ~~---------------~~ 78,168 (29,817) ~~---------------~~ 48,351 - ~~--------------~~ 48,351 ======= 11,578 ~~---------------~~ 31,914 (82,945) ~~--------------~~ (51,031) ~~--------------~~ (39,453) ========		2020 £ 256,565 (252,999) ~~---------------~~ 3,566 (93,125) ~~---------------~~ (89,559) - ~~--------------~~ (89,559) ======= 15,865 ~~---------------~~ 8,078 (111,746) ~~--------------~~ (103,668) ~~--------------~~ (87,803) ========
	~~-~~		~~-~~

Transactions

During the year expenditure of £64,154 (2020: £16,439) was recharged to Writers & Scholars International Limited by Writers & Scholars Educational Trust. At the balance sheet date the amount due from Writers & Scholars International Limited was £3,330 (2020: £660).

13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The David and Elaine Potter Foundation made a grant of £4,000 (2020: £36,000) in the year, with £nil (2020: £nil) due to be received at the year end. Elaine Potter is a trustee of the charity. Kate Maltby, a trustee of the charity donated £11,193 to the charity in the year (2020: £6,193). No other related parties have occurred in the year or prior year.

WRITERS & SCHOLARS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

14. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – 2020

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	Funds	Funds	Funds
	2020	2020	2020
	£	£	£
INCOME FROM:
Donations & legacies	311,163	126,417	437,580
Charitable activities
Publishing fees & royalties	107,559	-	107,559
Other income from charitable activities	167,468	-	167,468
Other trading activities
Events income	13,593	-	13,593
Investments	17	-	17
	---------------------	----------------	---------------------
TOTAL INCOME	599,800	126,417	726,217
	--------------------	----------------	--------------------
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Donations and legacies	305,504		305,504
Fundraising activities	14,817		14,817
Charitable activities	440,075	126,417	566,492
	--------------------	----------------	--------------------
TOTAL EXPENDITURE	760,396	126,417	886,813
	-------------------	----------------	--------------------
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) NET
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS	(160,596)	-	(160,596)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward	45,853	-	45,853
	-----------------	----------------	-----------------
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	£(114,743)	-	£(114,743)
	========	========	========